Top-seeded Clovis North had to grind for every run against No. 4 Madera in the Central Section Division I semifinals.
The Broncos discovered quickly that scoring opportunities would be hard to come by. But Clovis North finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning, thanks to Riley Grealy.
Grealy delivered a two-run triple, while Jocelynn Gonzalez tossed a five-hitter to lead the Broncos past the Coyotes on Friday.
Madera trimmed the deficit with a run in the sixth inning, but Clovis North held on to advance.
The Broncos will face No. 7 Buchanan in the championship game after the Bears edged No. 3 Clovis East 1-0.
Buchanan scored the game’s lone run in the top of the seventh inning on Addy Schafer’s RBI.
Clovis North and Buchanan will meet at 7 p.m. May 30 at Margie Wright Diamond at Fresno State.
Division II
No. 3 Redwood 5, No. 2 Kingsburg 1: Jaden Lopez hit a home run and drove in three runs to power the Rangers. Jackie Ramirez struck out eight batters in the win.
Division III
No. 1 Chowchilla 9, No. 5 Dinuba 0: Ava Diaz and Hadley Ray each drove in two runs as the Tribe rolled past the Emperors. Heaven Moore recorded 13 strikeouts for Chowchilla.
No. 3 Hanford West 7, No. 2 Kerman 5: Emma Guzman and Adyson Owens each collected two RBI for the Huskies. Guzman also doubled.
Division V
No. 1 Woodlake 9, No. 4 Hoover 8: The Tigers survived a late rally after the Patriots scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Division VI
No. 3 Avenal 5, No. 7 Dos Palos 3: Layla Lopez drove in three runs and Mia Trejo added two RBI for the Buccaneers.
Softball
Central Section playoffs
Semifinal results; championship at Margie Wright Diamond, Fresno State
Division I
No. 1 Clovis North 2, No. 4 Madera 1
No. 7 Buchanan 1, No. 3 Clovis East 0
May 30
No. 1 Clovis North vs. No. 7 Buchanan, 7 p.m.
Division II
No. 1 Garces 10, No. 4 Stockdale 3
No. 3 Redwood 5, No. 2 Kingsburg 1
May 29
No. 1 Garces vs. No. 3 Redwood, 7 p.m.
Division III
No. 1 Chowchilla 9, No. 5 Dinuba 0
No. 3 Hanford West 7, No. 2 Kerman 5
May 28
No. 1 Chowchilla vs. No. 3 Hanford West, 7 p.m.
Division IV
No. 4 South 4, No. 1 Immanuel 2
No. 3 Mission Prep 5, No. 2 Lemoore 0
May 30
No. 3 Mission Prep vs. No. 4 South, 4:30 p.m.
Division V
No. 1 Woodlake 9, No. 4 Hoover 8
No. 10 California City 10, No. 6 Orcutt Academy 7
May 29
No. 1 Woodlake vs. No. 10 California City, 4:30 p.m.
Division VI
No. 1 Minarets 8, No. 5 Roosevelt 3
No. 3 Avenal 5, No. 7 Dos Palos 3
May 28
No. 1 Minarets vs. No. 3 Avenal, 4:30 p.m.
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Anthony Galaviz writes about sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.
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